Projects

The Bacton to Walcott Coastal Management Scheme is an opportunity for CPE, on behalf of North Norfolk District Council (NNDC), to work with the Bacton Terminal Operators to protect nationally important infrastructure and to provide benefit to local communities.

The proposed scheme will use Sandscaping, to protect the terminal and enhance the coastal management of the villages. It involves the placement of a large volume of sand on the foreshore at Bacton, which over time will move in a predominantly south easterly direction down the coast. This sand is expected to increase beach levels and extend the life of existing defences. This will be a UK first, taking learning from a recent Dutch innovation.

Modelling indicates that there will be significant benefits at Bacton and further work is underway to enhance the scheme to deliver benefits for the adjacent village of Walcott.

The Brackenbury Footpath Project is began construction in mid December 2017.The work comprised of vegetation clearance, construction of a 1.2m width concrete path with guardrail, installation of new security fencing and a set of beach to path access steps at either end of the path.

The work was carried out in order to maintain access at high tide along the North Felixstowe frontage in between the North Felixstowe promenade and Cobbold’s Point, at the location of the rock revetment.

Waveney District Council and Great Yarmouth Borough Council have been working together, through the Coastal Partnership East team, to develop a strategy for the future coastal defence management of the coast between Gorleston south pier in the north to Pakefield in the south. This is a very changeable coastline which supports a number of communities and essential economic activities, mainly tourist based.

The main risk along this coastline is from coastal erosion. Soft cliffs extend along the length of the coastline. These cliffs provide little natural resistance to shoreline change. Most of the frontage is defended but some of these defences are deteriorating and have reached or are approaching the end of their life. Without further investment there is a risk that these and other defences will fail, exposing coastal towns and villages along the cliff top to rapid erosion.

The overall aim of the project was to set out measures to manage the risk of coastal erosion and flooding to people and the developed environment, whilst recognising possible impacts on the natural environment, potential long term affordability and sustainability. Critically, it has been developed in partnership with the local communities, businesses and organisations to reflect a local community and business-driven Strategy, which will provide continued protection of community and business assets and support economic growth along the strategy length.

The December 2013 tidal surge which resulted in more than 150 homes and businesses being flooded highlighted the inadequacy of Lowestoft’s flood defences and the impact that this has on existing and potential growth for the town.

This was further reinforced in July 2015 by flooding in the Kirkley area caused by an extreme rainfall event. Together, they demonstrated Lowestoft’s vulnerability to all forms of flooding, from the sea, from rivers and from extreme rainfall.

In 2014 a project began to explore how this could be tackled. Coastal Partnership East, on behalf of Waveney District Council, Suffolk County Council and other partners, are managing this project. A number of studies have been carried out to understand the current extent and risk of flooding: how flood risk could increase in the future through the impacts of climate change; and the costs and benefits of providing different flood risk management solutions.

The Mundesley frontage forms part of the ‘Kelling to Lowestoft Ness Shoreline Management Plan’ (SMP6). The SMP policy for Mundesley involves ‘Holding the Line’ (HTL) until 2055 before moving to a policy of No Active Intervention. Following the adoption of SMP, a study was commissioned by North Norfolk District Council, working in partnership with the Environment Agency.

This was the Cromer to Winterton Ness Coastal Management Study, which was completed in 2013. The purpose of that study was to provide recommendations for coastal management works. The study found that coastal defence schemes could be technically and economically justified for Mundesley.

The Mundesley Coastal Management Scheme is included in the Environment Agency’s capital programme. To help this work move forward, Government funding, (Grant in Aid) needs to be secured. A business case is being developed to enable this to be applied for from the Environment Agency.

We have appointed AECOM to help us to develop the business case and we have formed a local liaison group to work with us. Following initial assessments and workshops, a long and short list of options have been developed alongside a re-assessment of the environment, economics and benefits of a scheme.

This information has been discussed with the liaison group and then presented to the wider community in Mundesley. The scheme and options were well received and the scheme has progressed to identify a preferred option.

In 2010 a major erosion event occurred that damaged a defence and prompted construction of a new 'soft' defence that was part-funded by community contributions. During 2013 three severe weather events exposed and damaged the new defence and raised doubts as to its ability to provide the standard of protection sought by the community.

In 2014 Suffolk Coastal District Council (SCDC) employed consultant Mott MacDonald to undertake Coastal Process and Works Options studies to inform decisions on future management.

Managing our coastline is a national issue and Great Yarmouth Borough Council is liaising with the Government about what can be done. A study has been done to provide important information to help support these conversations.

The Winterton to Hemsby Coastal Management Study is the first stage of a wider project that will cover the coastline between Winterton and Great Yarmouth to consider the most appropriate way of managing this dynamic shoreline over the next few decades.

Due to urgent need to consider options for Hemsby this phase of the project was started in April 2018. Findings and decisions from this study will feed into the wider planning for the Winterton to Great Yarmouth coastline.

Your involvement will make sure that this study reflects local knowledge and opinion.

Focusing on the shoreline of Hemsby to Winterton, this study will enable the Council and communities to make informed decisions regarding future management of this shoreline.

It looks at possible approaches for managing the coast and what actions would be needed to carry these out.

It will provide information required for conversations between communities, the Council and the Government.

What does the study look at?

We will develop a wider and up-to-date understanding of the coast and how it behaves, looking at changes that have happened to our coast, both recently and in the past.

We will be inspecting the current condition of the dunes, cliffs and defences. This will improve our understanding of today’s conditions and the risks and problems faced.

This information will be used to consider a range of possible approaches to managing this frontage.

Each approach will be assessed, looking at whether it will be suitable and effective along this coastline and also the possible impacts on future change both at Hemsby and along adjacent shorelines.

We will look at the possible costs involved in implementing the options that are considered viable.

Whilst we will be focusing on developing options for Hemsby, we will need to consider the risks associated with coastal changes at Winterton, but management options for the Winterton frontage will be not undertaken until a later phase of the wider project.

How can you get involved?

The coastal experts employed by Great Yarmouth Borough Council to complete the study have considered the technical information provided by the community and professional partners.

We also would like to hear your ideas about how our coastline should be managed.

The drop-in is an opportunity for you to express your views and provide us with any extra information.

Information has been gathered, incorporating any additional information obtained through this engagement with the community. Following discussions with the coastal experts and the community the next steps will be worked through together

We want to know what you think, please fill out the feedback form from the drop-in event or complete the survey online here.

Contact?

If you would like more information about the study then please do contact our Coastal Manager, Bernard Harris:

If you would like this information in another format or require a large print version please do get in touch with Bernard.